Chiu called his wife into their bedroom to talk to her. He locked the door and suddenly became enraged, the lieutenant said. He started yelling at her about trying to poison him and said the ghosts told him about her plan.

``He started choking her to the point where (his) mom and dad had to break into his room,'' said Shastany. ``The father had to use an ax to break the door down and they had to pull him off of her.''

A family member called 911 and Chiu was arrested at 9:24 a.m.

His wife, whom police did not name, had to be taken to the MetroWest Medical Center's Framingham Union campus to be treated for her injuries. Her condition was not available, but the injuries were not considered serious.

Chiu has been acting different for the past several weeks, his family told police, Shastany said. He has had mental health issues in the past.

``It's sad when mental illness creeps into people's lives like this,'' the lieutenant said. ``Hopefully this can be addressed and we can get help for everyone involved.''

Chiu was charged with attempted murder, assault and battery and threatening to commit murder.

At his Framingham District Court arraignment, prosecutor David Clayton asked Judge Paul Healy Jr. to hold Chiu without bail pending a hearing to determine if he is a danger to the public.

Clayton also said Psychiatric Emergency Services also recommended having a competency and criminal responsibility evaluation.

Healy ordered Chiu held without bail pending a hearing on Thursday.

After the arraignment, members of Chiu's family declined to comment on the incident.

Norman Miller of The MetroWest (Mass.) Daily News can be reached at 508-626-3823 or at nmiller@cnc.com.

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